Gregg Zoroya

Latest news from USA TODAY

More soldiers have been unavailable for combat in the last year because of wounds or injuries than at any time since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, shrinking the pool of soldiers ready for deployment to those conflicts.

Although the deaths of five servicemembers Monday in a killing spree at a battlefield stress clinic in Iraq were shocking, the incident added to a number of homicides that experts say is minuscule compared with the Vietnam war.

Although the deaths of five servicemembers Monday in a killing spree at a battlefield stress clinic in Iraq were shocking, the incident added to a number of homicides that experts say is minuscule compared with the Vietnam war.

The portrait that emerged Tuesday of Sgt. John Russell, the 44-year-old from Sherman, Texas, charged with killing five fellow servicemembers at a Baghdad military base, in many ways personifies the emotionally taxed soldier the Army says has become a growing concern as the Iraq war stretches into its seventh year.

The portrait that emerged Tuesday of Sgt. John Russell, the 44-year-old from Sherman, Texas, charged with killing five fellow servicemembers at a Baghdad military base, in many ways personifies the emotionally taxed soldier the Army says has become a growing concern as the Iraq war stretches into its seventh year.

The Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs are overemphasizing mild traumatic brain injury among combat troops at the expense of other medical problems that are going untreated, two Army mental health researchers say in an article that has raised intense objections from other scientists studying the condition.

The Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs are overemphasizing mild traumatic brain injury among combat troops at the expense of other medical problems that are going untreated, two Army mental health researchers say in an article that has raised intense objections from other scientists studying the condition.

Military scientists are learning how roadside bombs the most common weapon used against U.S. troops in the field harm the brain even when there is no other physical damage, according to research results released by the project's lead scientist.

Military scientists are learning how roadside bombs the most common weapon used against U.S. troops in the field harm the brain even when there is no other physical damage, according to research results released by the project's lead scientist.

The economic downturn is hitting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans harder than other workers one in nine are now out of work and may be encouraging some troops to remain in the service, according to Labor Department records and military officials.

The economic downturn is hitting Iraq and Afghanistan veterans harder than other workers one in nine are now out of work and may be encouraging some troops to remain in the service, according to Labor Department records and military officials.